Aligning the software project selection process with the business strategy: A pilot study

Abstract

This report aims to present the significance of requirements engineering approaches in guiding the project selection process with an overall objective of ensuring that selected projects align fully with an established business strategy. We analyze software practitioners' views on managing the software project selection process in Cape Town, South Africa. We designed this empirical study following on from our previous literature survey. Using data categorization techniques, our findings suggest that software vendors ought to ensure that organizational business strategy is well explained to all stakeholders, including the technical personnel who produce the software. Similarly, the engineering approaches directed towards mitigating selection of risky business must be utilized and integrated into the development process. Failure to take these factors into perspective renders the organizational competitive strategy ineffective. Detailed research methods used in the study are given as well as approaches undertaken for data collection and analysis. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.